Bathinda/Chandigarh: Farmer organisations under the banner of the Desh Bachao Morcha on Wednesday held motorcycle rallies across Punjab to protest the proposed India-US trade agreement, alleging it would adversely affect agriculture, dairy, small industries and traders.The protests, organised by groups including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), Azad Kisan Morcha, Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Organisation and BKU (Boka Singh Mansa), were also held in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.Farmer leaders claimed the proposed pact extended beyond trade in goods and could cover agriculture, dairy, digital trade, services, intellectual property, energy and investment. They alleged that lowering import duties on agricultural and dairy products would hurt Indian farmers, dairy producers and small industries, while changes to rules governing seeds, medicines and patents could strengthen multinational corporations at the expense of farmers’ autonomy and the country’s food security. They also warned that cheaper imports could adversely affect MSMEs.The organisations demanded that the Centre make the draft agreement public and hold a detailed discussion in Parliament before finalising it.In Hoshiarpur, protesters submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Dasuya SDM, demanding the proposed agreement be scrapped. They warned of a nationwide agitation if their concerns were ignored.As part of the campaign, the Desh Bachao Morcha has called a mega rally at Kisan Ghat in New Delhi on July 21..
